BRITAIN’S NAVY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19367, 25 July 1925, Page 5

BRITAIN’S NAVY

BUILDING PROGRAMME NEW CRUISERS. DESTROYERS AND SUBMARINES. Ry Telegraph-Per Pres? Assn.—Copyright. LONDON, July 23. Mr Stanley Baldwin, in making his eagerly expected naval construction statement in the House of Commons, announced that two cruisers would be begun on October 2, two in February and three yearly thereafter. The Government had also decided on an annual construction of nine destroyers and six submarines, together with certain auxiliary vessels, beginning with the financial year 1926-27, which would be continued during the normal life of the present Parliament. Some of the new cruisers will be 10.000 tonners and the remainder smaller and less expensive, approximately 8000 tons. The Admiralty would meet the additional expense of £527,170 from savings under other heads. The Government will only ask Parliament to make additional provision this year in respect of the commencement of the new programme. if satisfied of the impossibility of making these savings, but it is not proposed to allow the increased expense to constitute an addition to the total of the Navy Estimates. QUESTIONS IN THE C S. Received Julv 24. 8.30 p.m. LONDON, July 23. Tn the House of Commons Air Baldwin said the Admiralty would do its utmost to diminish the extra cost of the new construction by substantial reductions in maintenance land other charges on the navy. Moreover, a committee of three not connected with the Government would be appointed as soon as possible to examine the maintenance cost and inferior economy in the navy, army Sind air services. Th p re was lively questioning by Labourites and others. Mr Henderson intimlating that the Opposition would give attention to the matter on Tuesday Mr Purchell wondering when we would got a Government with courage to put the Admiralty in its proper place, tind Commander Kenworthy asking whether the programme was drawn up without reference to ships being built abroad. Mr Baldwin, replying, emphasised that this was entirely a replacement programme. He promised a detailed explanation during the debate. THE ADMIRALTY IS RIGHT. LONDON TIMES’ OPINION Received Julv 24. 8.30 p.m. LONDON, July 24. The Times congratulates the Prime Minister and Cabinet on the settlement of the cruiser question. It says: The industrial state of the country is not such as to invito unnecessary divisions, nor is the Empire overseas, specially in the Far East, set in so peaceful an environment, momentarily, that the maintenance of adequate protection for British trade routes land scattered dependencies could be allowed to drift.